Muddy Waters, Mannish Boy | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 153^rd edition of Throwback Vibez (2023), we recollect and reflect on “Mannish Boy” by the late, great blues musician, Muddy Waters. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 153^rd edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2023), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Mannish Boy”, performed by 🎙 Muddy Waters.

“I’m a man! / I’m a full grown man.” WOO! The late, great blues musician🎙 Muddy Waters (1913 – 1983) lets the whole world know that he was a man on his classic, 🎵 “Mannish Boy”.  Waters goes on to sing, “I’m a natural born lover’s man,” as well as “a hoochie coochie man.” This blues standard was originally recorded in 1955. Credited to Waters, 🎼 ✍ Bo Diddley, and Mel London, it interpolates the Bo Diddley classic, 🎵 “I’m A Man”. A version appears on Waters’ 1968 album, 💿 Electric Mud.  However, it’s the hard version from 💿 Hard Again, released in 1977, that truly tickles my fancy.

The later version of “Mannish Boy” benefits from more sophisticated recording technology, which is a win.  Furthermore, the screams are even more pronounced.  The guitar digs in a bit more, as does that signature blues beat.  Waters is turned up to the nth degree, delivering a gritty vocal that oozes with soul.  It begins with the dramatic intro, where Waters lets everybody know, “Everything’s gonna be alright this morning / Oh yeah.” Fo’ sho, Muddy, for sho! While 🎵 “Mannish Boy” is best experienced by listening rather than written analysis, I leave you with my favorite lyrics, which involve spelling:

“I’m a man

I spell M

A child

N

That represents ‘man’

No B

O child

Y

That means ‘mannish boy’.”

🎙 Muddy Waters • 💿 Hared Again • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment Inc. • 🗓 1977

Muddy Waters, Mannish Boy: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 153 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Sony Music Entertainment Inc.; John Alan Sperry, PIRO via  Pixabay]